A/N: Just a quick note... I don't currently have a beta for this story, so I apologize in advance for any mistakes. Thanks for reading! - Catchastar101

- FATE/FAIRYTAIL -

- 1 -

LAXUS

Laxus Dreyer wasn't used to being summoned by anyone, let alone the Magic Council. It had grated on his nerves ever since the letter had been deposited into his hands yesterday. A scowl still lingering on his face as it had etched itself upon his features as he had read the contents. It had offered no explanations as to why he was to report here at the Magic Council. Headquarters, (though he suspected it had something to do with the sudden appearance of strange markings on his hand) only that he was to report there immediately. That was another reason why the large blonde male ground his teeth as a guard escorted him through the building. Nobody rushed Laxus Dreyer. Nobody who didn't fancy a black eye in response at least.

He kept his gaze on the back of the guard as they traveled down numerous hallways, footsteps echoing loudly against the marble floor and vaulted ceilings. He clenched his fists hanging at his sides as another wave of irritation washed over him. Just where the hell where they going? Suddenly the guard stopped. He turned to Laxus, giving him a once over that was meant to intimidate but only made Laxus want to wipe this guard's face on the floor. The guard motioned for him to enter through the door immediate to his right side. Laxus let out a huff of indignation but moved as had been indicated through the unremarkable door.

It opened with ease, soundless as it drew back into the room it had previously been guarding. No sooner had his hulking frame crossed the threshold did the door begin its descent to collide with the latch holding it in place, once again guarding the room laid out before him. The sound of the door clicking shut caused a shiver to crawl up the length of his spine.

"Fucking creepy." He thought.

MIRAJANE

She hummed a cheery tone behind her perfectly crafted façade of innocence. Her pretty face concealing a tortured mind and fractured heart. She smiled sweetly once more at her escort. He had continually turned to cast his eyes upon her, his gaze often lingering longer than could be considered politely upon her voluptuous form. He gave her a small smirk before he allowed himself to fully face forward once again as they traversed the echoing halls of the Magic Council.

Once he had removed his gaze and fully turned from her, MiraJane felt the sweet smile slip and shift into a sinister scowl. Her icy blue eyes hardened at his figure as he stopped before a large wooden door before turning his body to face her directly. Immediately her features softened, cascading silver hair framing an angelic face without a trace of malice. She even managed a polite thank you for his escort, the words honey sweet and melodic.

Grasping the gleaming brass doorknob her attention was brought briefly back to the symbol now mysteriously gracing her small hand. Its blood red color a stark contrast on her pale skin. It had greatly worried her. She feared that it somehow was related to the demon residing in her heart. What exactly that meant she hadn't a clue. She favored her bottom lip, brilliant white teeth sinking softly into its plump flesh. Hesitating only for the briefest of seconds, she turned the knob beneath her hand and pushed herself forward and into the room where her fate awaited her.

"Please watch over me...Lissanna."

The prayer tumbled from her lips, too low for anyone else to hear had they been trying to listen, pleading for strength and courage for what was to come.

CANA

"This is lame." Cana complained for what must've been the third time in the past twenty minutes. She was sitting in a room currently occupied with six other people, all of which remained silent as the minutes had continued to tick by. Long legs propped on the table in front of her seriously uncomfortable chair. She huffed out another sound of annoyance, pushing the locks of chestnut waves that had fallen back over her shoulder.

"NOBODY knows what the hell is going on?" She questioned them, still unconvinced that someone didn't have a clue as to why they had all been summoned here. She assumed they had been summoned here as she was. What other reason could have brought them all from wherever they came from to sit in a room that HAD to have been the FURTHEST room from the entrance in the entire building that housed the Magic Counsel. It had taken FOREVER in her mind to get to the tiny room, her guide less than helpful in answering her questions as they had walked. And apparently the other occupants of this room weren't going to be of much help of providing answers either.

She had noticed at the very least that, like herself, everyone currently in the room had the same red markings on their right hands. Though the symbols were all different, it was obvious that they were of the same origin, too eerily similar to be random. To be honest she hadn't given much thought about it. It had appeared sometime in the night a few days ago while she had been passed out on the bar floor. Initially she had thought either Macao or Wakaba had drawn it, but when scrubbing her hands had failed to even fade the design in the slightest she knew it wasn't drawn on. She studied it now, two red wings framing a small red diamond. It didn't hurt, and it hadn't affected her magic to any degree...it was just there, seemingly doing nothing. What use outside of decoration it possessed was beyond her desire to find out. Now, however, seeing these six individuals sporting the same type of mark, a feeling of unease began to settle in the pit of her stomach.

"I need a drink."

- FREED -

Man that woman was loud, he thought. Freed Justine refused to believe that whatever the reason he had been summoned here could possibly pertain to both himself, and that obnoxious brunette whom he could swear had arrived inebriated. He found himself rolling his eyes in her direction. His survey of the other occupants hadn't gleamed much interest on his end. Outside of the drunken loudmouth, there were five others. Freed made a mental checklist as he studied them.

Big blonde muscle dude was sitting at one of the chairs in the back corner of the room. He had his arms crossed over his chest, and he was leaning the chair backwards, balancing his hulking frame on its rear two legs. His eyes were closed, large headphones adorned the sides of his head.

Seated several rows ahead of the blonde was a silver haired beauty. She had a serene expression on her face that somehow seemed out of place to Freed. Then again, ignorance was bliss, wasn't it? Her head was likely filled with glitter and rainbows rather than actual firing neurons, needed to form a single coherent thought.

Just a few chairs to the left of that a young girl was fidgeting in her seat, nervousness clearly evident as she switched from twirling one of her indigo pigtails, to tracing invisible patterns one the table top in front of her. Freed guessed she couldn't have been more than 11 years of age. Seriously! What on Earthland could he be doing in a room with THEM? He was a respectable mage, with a noble lineage. He spoke with eloquence and finesse. He was dressed immaculately...and yet he was somehow connected to the miscreants gathered here?! Obviously someone had made a mistake. He was sure of it. Just like he was sure that the remaining two occupants were convicts.

Finally several figures filtered into the room from the same door he had used nearly 30 minutes ago. The symbol emblazoned on their clothes signified that they were Magic Council. leaders. Freed's calculating gaze swept through them as they moved to the front of the room. Each had a serious expression, and their movements were stiff, indicating a certain level of tension being carried atop their shoulders. That tension now filled the room, sucking the air out and replacing it with weighted terror. The sensation caused him to have to gulp for air, as it became difficult to breathe. Perspiration from the effort gleamed across his brow.

He certainly hoped his being here was a mistake. Really hoped.

- COMING UP -

Of the seven gathered, two captured Makarov's attention...the blue haired man with a tattoo running the length of his right eye, and the mysterious man with ebony hair, whose face seemed to pull at a forgotten memory within him.